11 political parties united in calling for further elections reforms in FATA, citing previously ignored recommendations. Over 50 tribal party leaders from 9 parties agreed on 40 reforms, including allowing small political meetings without permission and banning the practice of selling votes or political tickets. They emphasized the need for free and fair elections in all of FATA, including South Waziristan, and called on the ECP and government to immediately implement the recommended reforms before upcoming general elections.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Contact: fataparties@gmail.com – Telephone contact below
PARTIES UNITED TO ECP: FATA ELECTIONS REFORMS NEEDED NOW
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — As the tribal areas began preparing for elections this week, 11
mainstream political parties highlighted poor implementation of the Political Parties Order
extension to FATA. 54 tribal party leaders also agreed that the security establishment, political
agents and militants are all responsible for restricting their ability to operate freely in FATA. Tribal
leaders stated that intelligence agencies regularly intimidate them and their political workers and
prevent movement in their areas.
The FATA Committee also protested that the ECP has not responded adequately to elections
recommendations submitted on December 27 and urged swift action to address their five key
concerns. Emphasizing that reforms are needed to ensure free and fair elections in FATA, the group
asked for assurances that all IDPs from FATA would be provided with access to vote. Displaced by
violent conflict, IDPs are entitled the same voting rights as all Pakistanis and the more than 600,000
displaced citizens from FATA should be provided with polling stations in camps as well as in host
communities where they now live, stated a committee spokesperson.
As analysis of the voter list shows, NADRA and the Election Commission have also failed to
increase voter registration efforts and provide adequate access to CNIC registration facilities in
FATA. Citing a severe lack of mobile NADRA van campaigns and the poor accessibility and
operation of tribal ECP offices, party leaders lamented the de facto disenfranchisement of many
FATA voters.
Denouncing corruption in the political administration, tribal political leaders reiterated their view
that judicial officers from neighboring settled districts should serve as returning officers in FATA
agencies. This recommendation has thus far been ignored as the ECP recently designated political
agents as returning officers for upcoming general elections. The body also noted that this
shortcoming will adversely impact women voters in the tribal areas.
The committee emphasized the need to keep polling stations within 2 kilometres from voter homes
in compliance with the Supreme Court order, and local party presidents added that voters should not
be assigned to polling stations outside their villages. Tribal leaders also noted that ECP provincial
and local officials have not opened direct communications with political parties in FATA as the
FATA Committee requested last year.
Some additional pressing consensus recommendations from local leaders included abolishing the
requirement for parties to inform political agents about all party gatherings, an effective ban on
“selling” party tickets for MNA seats, and an end to the practice by some maliks of selling the votes
of their people. Likewise, leaders called on the FATA elite to stop collaborating with the State to
prevent political party activity.
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 1

2. Calling on the ECP to monitor and enforce these regulations, FATA parties warned of the
dangerous election environment in NA-42 in South Waziristan and also asked for reassurance from
the ECP that all registration forms submitted before elections are announced will be included in the
voter list. Finally, FATA parties clearly indicated that the immediate extension of PEMRA
jurisdiction to FATA is essential for ensuring free and transparent elections in the tribal areas.
As they prepare to participate in the first party-based elections in FATA history, national and tribal
political party leaders emphasized the urgent need for elections reforms in FATA. Following the
extension of the Political Parties Order, political parties are seeking election in the tribal areas for
the first time in history. As general elections approach, political party candidates are actively
preparing their campaigns for MNA seats to represent FATA voters in the National Assembly of
Pakistan.
With complete support from political party leadership, 11 political parties are represented on the
FATA Committee: Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam F
(JUI-F), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), National Party (NP), Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami
Party (PkMAP), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-
Azam (PML), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Qaumi Watan
Party (QWP).
In 2010, the Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms began working together to
demonstrate their shared commitment to promoting debate throughout Pakistan and to call for the
implementation of reforms in the tribal areas. Today, the 11 member parties of the FATA
Committee continue to engage in discussions with stakeholders from FATA to build consensus,
increase awareness and promote dialogue on existing and future reforms.
###
Full Statement: March 14, 2013 December 27, 2012 Recommendations to ECP
Media Briefing and Recommendations to ECP English: http://goo.gl/ObTUD
English: http://goo.gl/K0FCJ Urdu: http://goo.gl/QhAA1
Urdu: http://goo.gl/R2Sxc
Photos (high resolution): Media Briefing and FATA Party Leaders Conference (March 2013)
http://goo.gl/JgLM1
FATA Committee Party Spokesperson Contacts
ANP: Arbab Tahir, General Secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 0333-939-3223, arbab@anp.org
JI: Mohammad Ibrahim, Professor and Provincial Ameer, muhammadibrahimk5@gmail.com
JUI-F: Abdul Jalil Jan, Information Secretary, KP, 0333-910-7831, abduljalil_jan@yahoo.com
MQM: Syed Asif Hasnain, MNA, 0300-927-7831, asifhasnain_255@yahoo.com
NP: Mukhtar Bacha, Provincial President, KP, 0333-910-7133, mukhtarbacha@gmail.com
PkMAP: Akram Shah Khan, Central Secretary General
PML: Ajmal Khan Wazir, Central Senior Vice President, 0300-579-1779, ajmalkwazir@gmail.com
PML-N: Rehmat Salam Khattak, General Secretary, KP, 0300-589-3705, pmlnkpk@gmail.com
PPP: Mirza M. Jihadi, Advisor SAFRON, 0300-598-4198, mirzamohdjihad@hotmail.com
PTI: Barrister Salman Afridi, Political Strategy Committee KP, 0345-888-6994, salmanafridi@hotmail.com
QWP: Asad Afridi, President, FATA, 0333-937-5165, asadafridi18@yahoo.com
Complete FATA Committee member list: http://goo.gl/K0FCJ (scroll down)
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 2

3. 53 political party leaders from 9 political parties from 7 agencies and frontier regions present 40 FATA
elections reforms recommendations for immediate implementation
Link for high resolution photo: http://goo.gl/9eUM6
11 political parties united calling on the Election Commission for further FATA elections reforms, citing
previously ignored recommendations and calls for greater freedoms by tribal party leaders
Link for high resolution photo: http://goo.gl/Gwomj
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 3

4. 40 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FATA ELECTIONS REFORMS
From FATA Agency and Frontier Region Political Party Leaders
March 14, 2013
After recently welcoming PTI to the FATA Committee, the reforms body convened this week 54
political party leaders from the seven agencies and frontier regions of FATA to discuss the realities
of campaigning in FATA. 90 percent of these tribal leaders also indicated that the 2011 reforms to
the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) are not being implemented in their areas.
FATA political parties are currently not able to operate freely in many agencies and frontier
regions, due to the law and order situation as well as obstacles put in place by the State, including
intelligence agencies, political agents, the army, some FATA elite, as well as national and
international terrorist groups. All of these elements are working against the political participation of
FATA citizens and restrict political parties from visiting their voters.
Following deliberations in Islamabad, tribal leaders from nine of the committee’s eleven political
parties1 agreed on 40 additional consensus recommendations for free and fair elections in FATA
and the effective implementation of previously enacted FATA reforms. These recommendations
require immediate consideration and tribal party leaders demanded that many of them be enacted
before general elections. The recommendations were consensus points, approved by all tribal
political party leaders in attendance.
FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION
Highlighted and Urgent Recommendations
1) Political parties should be permitted to hold corner meetings without restrictions or advance
notice. The requirement of asking permission or notifying the PA for all meetings in advance
is not realistic and puts political parties at risk of attack. Large public gatherings or rallies
should be notified one week in advance. No permission should be required.
2) Political parties must not “sell” tickets for MNA seats. The Election Commission should
implement and enforce a ban on this anti-democratic activity.
3) Many maliks continue to sell the votes of their people for money. This practice should be
prohibited by the Election Commission and any “vote buying” activities should be punishable
by law, including the disqualification of candidates violating the regulation.
4) No political activity is taking place so far in the NA-42 constituency in South Waziristan.
The government should take swift action to ensure that free and fair elections may take place
in this constituency.
1
MQM and PTI party leaders from the agencies and frontier regions could not attend due to scheduling conflicts. Their
party leadership, however, did meet with the FATA Committee this week.
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 4

5. 5) PEMRA jurisdiction should be extended to FATA. Access and security should also be
provided to media so that they can enter FATA freely and better cover elections and political
parties.
6) FATA elite should be stopped from working together with the State to prevent the free
operation of political activity in FATA.
7) All voter registration forms submitted prior to the announcement of elections must be
accepted and added to the voter list.
8) Public funds allocated to sitting MNAs must not be utilized for their election campaigns. The
Election Commission must enforce a ban on the use of these funds for campaign purposes.
FATA MNA and Senator funds should be used only for development schemes and should not
be misused for corrupt purposes.
FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION
Elections Recommendations for ECP and Government
9) The 2011 Political Parties Order extension and Frontier Crimes Regulation amendments are
not being implemented properly by the political administration and the security
establishment. Implementation should be monitored and enforced by the government.
10) Political parties should be given free and open access and also necessary security to travel to
and operate in FATA.
11) To ensure increased women’s participation in elections, women’s polling stations should be
provided in all agencies and frontier regions.
12) Polling stations should be no more than 2km from voters’ homes to increase political
participation in FATA.
13) Security should be ensured at all polling stations and no polling station should be shifted after
being previously established or announced.
14) FATA voters should have access to polling stations in their own village and not be forced to
travel to another village to participate in elections.
15) The political parties Code of Conduct published by the Election Commission of Pakistan
must also apply to elections in FATA.
16) The Election Commission must monitor the free and fair administration of elections in FATA.
17) The ECP should make regulations specifically for free and fair elections in FATA.
18) Judicial officers should be deployed as returning officers in general elections.
19) The political agent should support the participation of all FATA society in political activity
and the upcoming general elections.
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 5

6. 20) All FATA IDPs should be provided the right to vote in the location of their displacement,
regardless if they are living in camps or in host communities.
21) IDPs from all frontier regions should be officially recognized by the government and also
given the right to vote in the location of their displacement.
22) FATA should also be represented in the federal cabinet of the caretaker government set-up.
23) International observers should be given permission to monitor elections in FATA.
24) The political agent must not show favoritism toward any political party candidate or any
independent candidate.
25) The governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must not interfere in or influence elections in FATA.
26) All of these recommendations should be implemented and enforced immediately, prior to the
day of general elections 2013.
FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION
Elections Recommendations for Parties, Civil Society, Media and International Community
27) Political parties should include FATA democracy and FATA reforms in their national party
manifestoes for general elections.
28) Political awareness remains low throughout FATA. Government, political parties, civil
society and the international community should work together to educate FATA citizens
about the political process.
29) Many journalists are “for sale”, intimidated and pressured by the State and security
establishment. To decrease this corruption and biased reporting, more private media should
be given increased access and security in FATA.
30) The government and the Election Commission should investigate journalists who are
blackmailing political agents and/or political parties.
31) National and international media should send their own independent journalists to FATA and
ensure that they report accurately and in-depth on local problems and news in FATA.
32) The United Nations and other international organizations should make public statements
about the lack of human and political rights in FATA.
FOR IMPLEMENTATION AFTER ELECTIONS
Recommendations for the President, new National Assembly and Political Administration
33) Further amendments to the Frontier Crimes Regulation are needed.
34) Reserved MNA seats for FATA women should be established, giving them the same special
representation as in the rest of Pakistan.
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 6

7. 35) The frontier regions constituency NA-47 is too large and too spread out for effective
representation. The constituency should be divided on the basis of population.
36) Increased CNIC and voter registration efforts are sorely needed in FATA. NADRA should
deploy mobile registration vans: as many and as soon as possible.
37) Blocked CNICs of FATA citizens should be unblocked with the approval of tribal elders.
38) Corruption by political agents must be investigated and stopped. Political agent appointments
are “for sale” in FATA and this practice must be stopped.
39) Political agents should expedite the issuance of birth, death, marriage and disability certificates to
FATA citizens. These services are very poorly administered and must be improved.
40) The army is part of the problem, not part of the solution. The security establishment should
stop its involvement with terrorist and militant organizations.
These recommendations will be submitted for immediate consideration and action to the new
caretaker government as well as the President of Pakistan, the Election Commission, NADRA, the
SAFRON Ministry, the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the FATA Secretariat.
Unlike the rest of Pakistan, FATA voters do not enjoy the same legislative representation or
accountability as other Pakistani citizens. This is true because Article 247 of the Constitution of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan prevents FATA MNAs (and all members of the National Assembly)
from legislating for FATA. Despite this restriction on political rights and until the situation is
corrected, FATA citizens still deserve MNAs that represent their needs and desires for democratic
development and an improved standard of living.
Contact
fataparties@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/FATAparties
http://facebook.com/FATAparties
Full Statement: March 14, 2013 Media Briefing and Recommendations to ECP
English: http://goo.gl/K0FCJ
Urdu: http://goo.gl/R2Sxc
December 27, 2012 Recommendations to ECP
English: http://goo.gl/ObTUD
Urdu: http://goo.gl/QhAA1
Photos (high resolution): Media Briefing and FATA Party Leaders Conference (March 2013)
http://goo.gl/JgLM1
###
March 17, 2013: Parties United to ECP: FATA Elections Reforms Needed Now 7